Solomon: 10 things we learned from Texans’ Thanksgiving Day win

Shayne Graham hit the game-winner from 32 yards but missed from 51 earlier in the contest. (Karen Warren/Chronicle)

1. The Texans, who claimed a 34-31 win, their second overtime win in four days, have finally become residents of Clutch City. Oh, they have sported the name Houston since their inception, but a Clutch City address is reserved for those special citizens with championship mettle. The 97-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown drive was a thing of magic. When pushed, this team pushes back. When challenged, it has stood tall (most of the time) and dished out more than it took in. And when they need to be lucky, doggone it, these Texans are the luckiest rascals in the NFL. Amazing.

2. Shayne Graham CANNOT make a long field goal to win a game. So stop setting him up to embarrass himself. Gary Kubiak’s conservative play-calling late could be very costly in the playoffs.

3. Andre Johnson is the best Johnson to ever play receiver in the NFL. Calvin is nice and all, and is certainly headed toward becoming an all-time great, but let’s not forget about Dre. He had four catches for 64 on the biggest drive of the game, and finished with nine catches for 188 yards.

4. Alan Ball isn’t Johnathan Joseph. Well, that one was easy, but apparently the Texans coaching staff thought Ball could pretend to be Joseph for a day, as they let Ball cover Calvin Johnson one-on-one as Joseph would have, had he not missed the game with a groin injury. Johnson torched him for five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown.

5. My next Kareem Jackson Fan Club meeting is going to have to be moved to a larger location. Granted I used to hold it in a closet – hey, at least it was a walk-in closet – but we’re welcoming new members weekly. Jackson did about as much of a shutdown job on Calvin Johnson as can be done, holding the dynamic Lions’ receiver to one catch for just six yards in the third quarter. Johnson had three catches for 37 yards in the second half, and one of those wasn’t even on Jackson. A great game by the third-year corner.

6. The Texans’ defense ain’t what it used to be back in the day. You know, way back in October. Houston has allowed more than 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2010 B.P. (Before Wade Phillips).

7. The Texans will give up a 40-yard kickoff return pretty much every game, so get used to it.

8. Section 315 at Ford Field is the “Family Fun Zone” where no alcohol is served and there is no cursing. That’s a good idea. Though there was a lot of gosh-dat-blasted-doggone-jiminy-cricket-to-heck going on there when the Texans benefited from a pitiful NFL rule that disallows a challenge if a coach throws a challenge flag on a scoring play that is automatically challenged. It cost Detroit an 81-yard touchdown run.

9. Justin Forsett must be a good guy. A really good guy. How else would he be given that 81-yard run just for trying hard and never quitting on a play? Even after his knee touched the ground.

10. Matt Schaub’s cup maker is due a nice Christmas gift. Ndamukong Suh’s foot managed to connect with Schaub’s most private area, but the Texans’ quarterback didn’t seem to be bothered by it. The cup may have provided better protection than the Texans’ offensive line did on the day. Comedian Guy Torry hit ESPN anchor Mike Hill with a new nickname for Suh. He thinks he should be called Suh-age (sewage), “because he’s just that dirty.”